Toolkit
Story: Microsoft: We took MikeRoweSoft too seriously
Posted by: Anonymous (Tuesday 20 January 2004, 4:33 PM)
MS is certainly obliged to vigorously defend its trademarks if it wants to keep them, so objecting to mikerowesoft.com is perfectly reasonable, even to the point of litigation if necessary. But well short of such bullying, MS could just as effectively (and much more quietly) defend themselves by simply buying the domain name at an equitable price. What knucklehead thug decided that $10 was anything but a legal mugging of this poor young entrepreneur? (Oh, when you find out, I'd strongly suggest firing him). Building contacts, printing business cards, etc. all has real value, and Rowe should be reasonably compensated for the inconvenience of surrendering what is, after all, his own name. Maybe $10K is a llittle high (the $1000 mentioned in this story is off by a zero from other accounts I've read), but it's a lot closer to the mark than $10, and Rowe admits that he just picked a number as a counteroffer after MS's ridiculous lowballing. C'mon Redmond - show a little largesse, give the kid enough to make it worth his while, and kill this ugly little story before it gets bigger and uglier.
Full Talkback thread
Story: Microsoft: We took MikeRoweSoft too seriously
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Mike Rowe should be the one p****d off here, for b... Jerry Adamek -
This guy is 100% wrong, he knew exactly what he wa... John Michealson
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MS is certainly obliged to vigorously defend its t... Anonymous -
Let the guy keep his domain and get a sense of hum... Anonymous
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I have nothing personal against Mike Rowe or Micro... Anonymous
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Mike just sits back silently and laughs. This kind... Egon Cathether
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In response to the coward hiding being a no name,... Matthew Parry
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I believe that Microsoft is being punished because... Gessica Martin
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MikeRoweSoft is not a trademark....MICROSOFT is.... Shawn Hanff
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I find the idea this person registered the domain... Scott Cochrane
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I would imagine Microsoft (legal) is now taking th... Terry Mathis
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Anyone would think that MikeRoweSoft is the only w... Me
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No offense buddy, you're taking this a little too... Dan
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If you don't think Microsoft doesn't think careful... Anonymous
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If this goes forward, I hope he kicks Micro$oft in... Eat Shit n' Die
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I have to agree with about 95% of the people that... David Greening
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The problem is Soft I would tell him drop the word... Randall Lind
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Once again I suggest that your article is dead wro... Anonymous
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I would like to see Mike Rowe go ahead and take th... Dave Stover
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John Michealson is the one taking this too serious... George Persico
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If you'll note in the actual website...Mr. Rowe co... Jennifer Tipton
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Re: Gessica Martin's comment. How has Microsoft be... Shawn White
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Please, take these points seriously.
1) Mike is ju... Philip Young
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hey michealson, take a hike ! windows is a generi... Anonymous
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Hopefully his software will be more stable & less... Jim Smith
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This reminds me of the Spike TV farce. bill webber
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Wow, you'd think MicroScum would have better thing... JCM
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It was obviously a deliberate play on Microsoft's... Tom Martin
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Within a 1/2 hr of learning of Mike Rowe's problem... Anonymous
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Mike Rowe should be Sued.
He blatantly tried to at... Anonymous
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To be honest, Microsoft take EVERYTHING too seriou... Ian Hutchinson
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I hope Microsoft loses. They have already lost in... Anonymous
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this is stupid, Mike Roe should get the cash for h... JOe YouNg
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What does microsoft think we are. Stupid!!! Let me... Gunnar Guðvararson
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What rubbish. Mike's site is already located at ww... Sam
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You really are kidding right?
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Lay off Mic... Dale -
A number of years ago MS sent a ciese an... Dale -
Oh dear God. If this went to court, imagine the sc... Major Ingram
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Bleh, Microsoft is entitled to sue, there exist wa... OCR
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John Michealson quote: "and this guy chose his nam... Martin
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It makes me seethe, for crying out loud, it's the... Ian Godfrey
